Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia

A 136-day adventure by skip's retirement travel. Read more

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Trip start
January 31, 2018
Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Great Rift Valley
January 31, 2018 in Kenya
Back on the road, beginning in Nairobi on 20 January. Today is the first chance I have had to have WIFI that would allow me to upload pictures.
These few pictures are taken from the roadside on the side of the great rift to give an idea of the incredible scale of this area.
Reminder: to see the original post, click on Find PenguinsRead more
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
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The Masai Village
January 31, 2018 in Kenya
The Masai are the native people in this part of Africa. We visited a traditional Masai village where we were welcomed with the village's own welcome dance where they got us all to participate. We were shown around, visited homes, shown their craft work and had a demonstration of fire startingRead more
Traveler I think I must have some Masai in me Tall thin small heads and long necks not to mention colorful clothes :)
7/3/18Reply
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Masai Mara
January 31, 2018 in Kenya
National park maintained and protected by the local Masai people as it is part of their historic lands. This large is essentially an extension of the Serengeti into Kenya. Lots of wildlife that will be posted in additional posts. These pictures give a sense of the place, the environment and the scope.Read more
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Masai Mara lions
February 2, 2018 in Kenya
The last 2 are an afternoon nap and a coupke cubs peeking over a rock ledge
TravelerPretty awesome. Looks like a great trip.
2/5/18Reply
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Masai Mara cheetahs
February 2, 2018 in Kenya
The last 2 pictures are of a cheetah having lunch. I don't know for sure what the prey was, but was likely a gazelle. What you don't see is 2 trees full of vultures waiting their turn
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Masai Mara elephants
February 2, 2018 in Kenya
The last picture appears to be a couple juveniles acting like a mating ritual
Arija RestbergsHow close are you to everything or are you using a telescopic lens?
2/2/18Reply
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Masai Mara hippos and Nile crocodiles
February 2, 2018 in Kenya
Resting near each other in the Mara River
Arija RestbergsWow, you must be in 7th heaven now - to see all those animal free and up close! Very jealous!!!
2/2/18Reply
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Masai Mara giraffes
February 2, 2018 in Kenya
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Masai Mara black rhino
February 2, 2018 in Kenya
Very rare and very hard to see. Look closely, he's is hiding in the bushes, which is where they typically hide and why they are hard to find
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Masai Mara antelopes and gazelles
February 2, 2018 in Kenya
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Masai Mara other fauna
February 2, 2018 in Kenya
wart hog, ostrich, hyena, guinea fowl, zebra, buffalo
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Lake Nakuru
February 2, 2018 in Kenya
If you've seen TV shows where flamingos are "dancing" in a salt lake, this is such a place. The downside right now is that about every 50 years, the water level rises in the lake, diluting the salinity, thereby killing of the main food for the flamingos. The water level is dropping and the birds are coming back, but the typical pink color is missing as there is not yet enough of the proper food, which is what gives the color.
First is an overview of the lake from a cliff top, followed by a picture of the lake showing the flood trees. Then some of the flamingosRead more
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Lake Nakuru Park
February 2, 2018 in Kenya
If you look closely at the map, you will see that Lake Nakuru is part of a national park. In addition to the flamingos, other species are present. The rhinos here are white rhinos
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
The equator on the way to Uganda
February 2, 2018 in Kenya
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Sunset on the White Nile
February 2, 2018 in Uganda
Now in Uganda in the town of Jinja
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Murchison Falls
February 2, 2018 in Uganda
Called the most powerful falls in the world, not the biggest, but the falls with the most water passing through a narrow rock cut. Hence the highest power. Pic are from below and from above the falls
This is a national park in UgandaRead more
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Cruise on the Victoria Nile
February 2, 2018 in Uganda
In Murchison Falls National Park. The Victoria Nile feeds into Lake Albert. When the Nile leaves Lake Albert it is known as the Albert Nile. It becomes the Blue Nile when it gets to Khartoum.
This is mostly a wildlife viewing cruise as many animals come to the river in this, the dry season. These pics are of birds.Read more
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Cruise on the Victoria Nile II
February 2, 2018 in Uganda
Besides birds, there were many hippos and elephants, including one group of elephants bathing. And some more birds. The red throated birds are bee eaters
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Chimp Sanctuary
February 2, 2018 in Uganda
The chimps are in the trees feeding. They are hard to see. So look closely.
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Rhino Sanctuary
February 2, 2018 in Uganda
A preserve set up to rebuild the populations of white rhinos. They have received adults from a ranch in Kenya and Disneyworld's animal park. It turns out that the first calf born at the reserve a few years ago had a father from the ranch in Kenya and a mother from Disney. Since the father is Kenyan and the mother American, they, of course, named that male calf Obama.Read more
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Gorilla tracking
February 2, 2018 in Uganda
This was one of the toughest hikes I've ever done. Walking in the rain forest up and down some pretty steep hills, crossing streams on logs and rocks (sometimes), ankle deep in mud, slippery roots and vines in the trail.
But in the end, it was worth it. Visiting a mountain gorilla family in their natural habitat is beyond words. I am blessed to have been in the prsence of such amazing, beautiful and peaceful creatures.Read more
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
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Zanzibar, Stone Town Slave Market
February 21, 2018 in Tanzania
Zanzibar was the major slave trading center in East Africa up until about 100 years ago. The Stone Town market was closed in the late 19th century, but the trading continued clandestinely for some years thereafter. First is the sculpture commemorating thee slave trade with the sculptor capturing expressions a facial features from across East Africa. The a couple pics of the slave chambers, including some of the original chains used on the slaves kept there awaiting auction. The actual market is gone as the British built a cathedral on the site when the trade was outlawed.Read more
Traveler wow
7/1/18Reply
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Nairobi
February 21, 2018 in Kenya
A view of the skyline with Uhuru (Freedom) Park in the foreground. This is where a major events in Nairobi take place, most recently the swearing in of Raila as "People's President." Pictures of the monument to the Mau Mau, the fighters for independence from the British in the 1950s and early 60s. Finally pictures from the site of the bombing of the American Embassy. TBARead more
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Lake Bunyonyi Uganda
February 21, 2018 in Uganda
One of the largest, deepest lakes in Uganda, formed behind a lava dam. Various view of the lake taken on a boat ride to a pygmy village (see next post). The first pic is anohther boat on its way to the marret in the village The last picture is of the Crowned Crane, the national bird of Uganda.Read more
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Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia skip's retirement travel
Pygmy Village on Lake Bunyonyi
February 21, 2018 in Uganda
The pygmies had originally lived where the gorilla park now is . When that park was established, the villages were moved out of the park. This is one of the relocated villages. We were welcomed with the village's traditional welcome dance, with everyone participating, even the very young. I'm sure my Cameroonian friends will enjoy the young man's football shirt. There are a couple pics of the village and the chief's home where at least 6 people sleep.Read more
Travelerhey?
1/3/21Reply
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